By ANNA USHER

Kirribilli is gearing up for a serious street takeover next month when ‘North Sydney Streets’ transforms the harbourside village into one giant alfresco playground – think live music, family fun, outdoor dining and a pop-up roller rink under the Harbour Bridge.

On Sunday 16 November, Broughton Street and surrounding lanes will close to traffic and open to locals for a free, all-day celebration of food, music and culture by the water.

A major highlight will be the pop-up roller-skating disco rink in the Burton Street Tunnel – with instructors on hand to help beginners find their rhythm. It’s a rare opportunity for all ages to lace up and glide beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The entertainment program features the Sydney Street Choir and Neutral Bay’s Hummingbird Adult Pop Choir, alongside acoustic sets, roving circus acts and street theatre. Children can get creative at eco-art workshops, while colourful performers bring energy and surprise to every corner of the precinct.

Local cafés, restaurants and retailers will spill onto the street, with Grace of India and Bloomingales creating a lively open-air hub filled with fresh blooms, upbeat tunes and relaxed outdoor dining. Visitors can also discover gallery pop-ups and a photography exhibition, adding an artistic layer to the day’s festivities.

Just a short walk away, the Harbour Trust will host Sub Base Stories — a 60-minute guided tour of Sub Base Platypus, offering a behind-the-scenes look at one of Sydney Harbour’s most intriguing heritage sites.

Local traders are getting involved too, with special menus, workshops and one-day offers, including exclusive promotions from the Ensemble Theatre.

North Sydney Mayor Zoë Baker said the event aims to reimagine local streets as places to connect and celebrate.

“Closing the street is just the beginning — we’re turning Kirribilli into a stage for roller-skating, music, food and family fun,” Mayor Baker said.

“The roller rink in the Burton Street Tunnel will be a real highlight, but the whole program is designed to give the community an unforgettable day together.”

North Sydney Streets is proudly funded by the NSW Government’s Open Streets Program, led by Transport for NSW. North Sydney Council received $350,000 over three years to deliver the initiative.

NSW Minister for Transport John Graham said the program is about using streets to bring people together.

“Too often our main streets are something we drive through rather than drive to,” Minister Graham said.

“The Open Streets program shows how we can transform local roads into thriving public spaces that build community and support local business.

“The colour and diversity of these 240 events across NSW celebrate each suburb’s unique personality. That’s what our vibrancy agenda is all about — backing locals to create events that work for their community.”

North Sydney Streets: Kirribilli is the first in a series of one-day activations planned across the local government area this summer.